DOW-UAP-D163, Air Intelligence Information Report, Sweden, 1953
WAR.gov / Department of War PURSUE Release 07
An Air Intelligence Information Report of January 13, 1954, from the Office of the U.S. Air Attaché in Stockholm on an unknown object that the crew of a Swedish civil DC-3 reported near Hässleholm, Sweden, on December 17, 1953.
Document Highlights
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Short overview
An Air Intelligence Information Report of January 13, 1954, from the Office of the U.S. Air Attaché in Stockholm on an unknown object that the crew of a Swedish civil DC-3 reported near Hässleholm, Sweden, on December 17, 1953.
Why this is interesting
The core is a translated Swedish newspaper account: at 1437 hours the pilot and the flight engineer of a Transair DC-3, flying from Bulltofta to Bromma at about 2,150 meters, saw a shining metal, spherical-elliptical object pass about 600 meters below them in the opposite direction, at what the pilot estimated was the speed of sound. Visible for six to seven seconds, it left no exhaust or condensation trail; the pilot, previously sceptical of flying saucer stories, thought it might be an unmanned “robot.” The Defense Staff’s communiqué states that it knew of no Swedish aircraft in the area and that an investigation was under way, and the Swedish Air Force chief said radar records would be checked. The attaché adds a short character sketch of the pilot from a source in the Royal Swedish Air Board who personally doubted the story, and notes that his office was trying to obtain further information.
Selected passages
- “A shining metal spherical elliptical object came toward them”
- “Now I don't know exactly what to think;”
- “This office is attempting to obtain further information on the occurrence.”
Background
This document is an Air Intelligence Information Report (AIIR), a standardized U.S. Air Force reporting form used to record raw information of potential intelligence value for later analysis. The form served as a primary vehicle for U.S. Air Force field intelligence collection throughout the early Cold War, until defense-wide reporting standards were established in the early 1960s. This AIIR records a December 17, 1953, incident near Hässleholm, Sweden, translated from a local media report. At 1437 hours, Transair chief pilot Captain Ulf Christiernsson and crew chief Olle Johansson reported observing an object approaching their DC-3 from the opposite direction, approximately 600 meters (1,969 feet) below their aircraft, which was flying at about 2,150 meters (7,054 feet). The aircrew described a “shining metal spherical elliptical object” and estimated its speed as approximately the speed of sound. Christiernsson described the object as strongly metallic, nearly round, and slightly elliptical. He reported that it remained visible for six to seven seconds, produced no visible exhaust or condensation trail, and initially appeared to him to be a jet or possibly an unmanned “robot.” The Swedish Defense Staff reportedly identified no Swedish aircraft in the area at that time and stated that it would examine possible radar observations. The report also includes a brief character sketch of Christiernsson based on the account of a personal contact, who characterized him as “most untrustworthy,” and notes that Swedish authorities had begun an investigation into the incident. All descriptive and estimative language contained in this report reflects the reporter’s subjective interpretation at the time of the event. Such characterizations should not be interpreted as a conclusive indication of the presence or absence of any intrinsic object features or performance characteristics. AARO Comment: Based on the reported aircraft altitude and relative separation, the object’s reported altitude was approximately 1,550 meters (5,085 feet). Under standard atmospheric conditions, the speed of sound at that altitude is approximately 748 mph.